Elton John Shows in Russia Will Go On Despite Anti-gay Policies

Rumors on internet and in local media said shows would be cancelled

BERLIN — Elton John’s shows in Russia will go ahead as planned, the Russian promoters have confirmed. There had been rumors that President Vladimir Putin’s anti-gay “propaganda” policies would stop the event from being staged.

The promoters, SAV Entertainment, have told fans that the two shows, tonight in Moscow and Kazan on Saturday, would go ahead, the BBC reported Friday.

The statement from SAV Entertainment said, “Despite the groundless rumors spread by the internet and media that Elton John’s concerts in Russia could be cancelled, the organizer assures you that Elton John’s shows in Moscow and Kazan will go ahead as planned.”

In June, Putin inked a law banning the promotion of homosexuality to children, although exactly how that could be interpreted is unclear.

The singer told CNN last month he would raise the issue on stage and planned to meet with the LGBT community in Russia. He said that he was “going to say something from the stage that’s… going to be meaningful.”

He told The Guardian in September: “As a gay man, I can’t leave those people on their own without going over there and supporting them. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’ve got to go.”